Results 2,541-2,560 of 26,021 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report September 2012: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 Sep 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a political rather than an economic answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report September 2012: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 Sep 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Define-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report September 2012: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 Sep 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: In layman's terms, would Professor McHale define what the council regards as debt sustainability for Ireland? At what point does our debt become sustainable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report September 2012: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (27 Sep 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: My comments were in the context of the domestic economy. The core of unemployment is found in the small to medium-sized enterprise, SME, sector. As spending power decreases, SMEs' revenues are affected. I understand the macro situation in terms of Ireland Inc., but I am considering the profile of those who are unemployed. Many used to work in construction, but a cohort are from the SME...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Which Departments account for the bulk of the payments?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Approximately €1.2 billion of the total of €1.3 billion is spent by three Departments.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a sensible suggestion. In regard to logistics, it appears that our hearings will take place over a period of 11 days. For how long is it proposed that we should sit on each of these days? Our hearings have to be structured and inclusive. The briefing by the Minister will use up one day, while our private meetings will use up two. We will have only five days of public hearings.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am excluding the Minister.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: My apologies, there will be six days of public meetings.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am not proposing anything. I am asking about the logistics in terms of the number of hours we will sit. Will we sit all day? It is important that we be inclusive, as the time period involved is relatively short. I seek information on the logistics. While I obviously will defer to the other committee members, I think it should be intensive and over a short period. It should be...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: If it is a question of members sitting for the week and of that pulling back our proposal, there is much merit in it.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is €635,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Donohoe raised the matter of the aeroplane last week.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Can Mr. Ó Foghlú just recap on the flights?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: That was after last week's meeting of this committee.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: All of the relevant information relating to this matter, including the invoices, should be circulated to the members of this committee. Deputy Donohoe is trying to ask a series of questions and it is unsatisfactory that he does not possess all the information he requires. The clerk should photocopy the invoices in our guests' possession in respect of the flights and circulate them to...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. The committee has a body of work with which it must deal. The members of the committee are not fools. With respect, Mr. Boland's opening statement bears no relation to what is emerging now.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. Boland subsequently read another statement which he had received from WIT. If we had not asked the question, we would not have received the answer.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: The information is not in Mr. Boland's opening statement. However, we will not go there. Will the Chairman see to it that we are provided with the information necessary to allow us to do our work?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (Resumed)
Higher Education Authority - Annual Financial Statements 2011: Discussion (4 Oct 2012)

Kieran O'Donnell: It would take five minutes for the clerk to photocopy the documents in order that the committee might then go about its business.